Episode
11
Cas Paton, OnBuy & Comet, on Global Marketplaces, Cash Innovation & Reviving Comet
Summary
Transcript
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Cas Paton, Founder and CEO of OnBuy and Comet, joins Jamie Hamer on the Retail is Detail Podcast for a fast-paced deep dive into building one of Europe’s fastest-growing marketplaces whilst reviving one of the UK’s most iconic retail brands.
From launching in 21 countries to introducing instant cashback and planning a US expansion, Cas shares how OnBuy is redefining customer value while competing head-to-head with global giants. He opens up about the reality of scaling at speed, navigating compliance chaos across borders, and why AI and data-driven execution underpin everything from category growth to customer retention.
In this candid and energetic conversation, Cas explains why OnBuy’s fair marketplace model - one that doesn’t compete with its sellers - is changing how retailers think about incrementally. He also reveals what’s next for Comet, his bold play to bring back a trusted British electronics brand for a digital era.
Expect insights on leadership under pressure, scaling infrastructure before the market notices, and why the future of retail won’t be decided by hype around AI but by who creates genuine customer value at scale.
About OnBuy
OnBuy is a UK-founded online marketplace launched in 2016 by Cas Paton. Unlike most platforms, it never sells its own products, so it never competes with its sellers. Now live across 21 European countries, it reported over £150 million in UK sales in 2024 and was named Europe's fastest-growing ecommerce business by the Financial Times.
About Comet
Comet is a returning British electronics retail brand, originally founded in 1933 and a household name before entering administration in 2012. In 2025, OnBuy acquired the brand and is investing over £10 million to relaunch it as an electronics marketplace, taking on Amazon and Currys in the UK's consumer electronics market.
Jamie Hamer
Host, Retail is Detail Podcast
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